- The Washington Times - Friday, December 7, 2018

Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a retribution list, she’s possibly checking it twice like Santa Claus, and Donald Trump Jr. is on it.

The New York Democrat issued a warning to the president’s son — and those who might upset her — that it’s not a wise idea to “troll a member of a body that will have subpoena power in a month.”

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet came in response to a story by The Washington Post titled “Donald Trump Jr. trolls Ocasio-Cortez with meme implying socialists eat dogs.”

“The meme’s suggestion is likely a reference to the reports of starving people in Venezuela having to eat dogs, cats and zoo animals because of the country’s spiraling economic crisis brought on by corruption and failed socialist policies,” the newspaper reported.

“I have noticed that Junior here has a habit of posting nonsense about me whenever the Mueller investigation heats up,” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez responded Friday. “Please, keep it coming Jr — it’s definitely a ’very, very large brain’ idea to troll a member of a body that will have subpoena power in a month. Have fun!”

The Democrat’s tweet garnered 85,000 “likes.” Many readers, however, were upset at her desire to seek congressional retaliation in response to someone’s constitutionally protected speech.


SEE ALSO: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez likens her election win to America’s historic moon landing


“Did you just threaten to subpoena someone for criticizing you?” asked former Fox News personality Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle. “As a lawyer and former prosecutor I find this deeply troubling.”

“Wow, a threat to use her power because she doesn’t want criticism. Well, she is an authentic socialist,” replied another.

“This long thread shows there really are 2 realities. Those who see this threat of legal action in response to free critical speech as the threat it is, and the crazy people who blind themselves to any wrongdoing as long as it’s done by their side. Seriously, people, get help,” tweeted a third person.

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez did damage control less than two hours later with another tweet.

“For the GOP crying that this is a ’threat’ — I don’t have power to subpoena anybody,” she wrote. “Congress as a body, GOP included, has the power. No indiv. member can issue a subpoena unless they are a Chair (which, as a freshman, I can assure you I will not be). Also must be under purview.”

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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